The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (codename `mido`) is more than just a phone; it's a piece of history. When it launched in 2017, it became an instant legend, cementing Xiaomi's place as the king of the budget segment. In markets like Nigeria, it was the ultimate workhorse, beloved for its tough metal body and a massive 4100 mAh battery that could easily withstand power cuts. Paired with the ultra-efficient Snapdragon 625, the `mido` was an endurance champion.
In 2025, this legendary device has long since passed its official end of life, with its final software being **MIUI 11, based on the ancient Android 7.1 Nougat**. For the massive community of enthusiasts still using this classic, a clean firmware flash is essential. It's the perfect way to unbrick a device, restore its famous battery life, and, most importantly, create the clean foundation needed to install modern, community-built versions of Android.
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi Note 4X
For `mido`, flashing is the key that unlocks its second life in the modern era.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: mido)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `mido` owners.
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `mido`'s incredible second life with modern Android.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the massive library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
**Q1: What made the Redmi Note 4X so popular in Nigeria?**
It was the perfect phone for the market at the time: it had a very strong and durable metal body, an affordable price, and a massive battery that could easily last through long power outages. It was a true all-day workhorse.
**Q2: Can I get modern Android on my Redmi Note 4X?**
Not officially, but yes! `mido` has one of the best and most dedicated custom ROM communities in the world. You can find stable, unofficial builds of nearly every version of Android, from Oreo all the way to Android 14 or 15, on forums like XDA-Developers.
**Q3: Is the Redmi Note 4X safe to use in 2025?**
On its stock MIUI 11 software, **no**. It is not secure for online use. However, if you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives regular security patches from the community, it can be made much safer for daily use.
**Q4: My battery life is terrible now. Will this fix it?**
A clean flash of the stock ROM has an excellent chance of fixing software-related battery drain. For even better results, a modern, lightweight custom ROM (like LineageOS) can often provide even better battery life than the old, heavy MIUI 11.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
In 2025, this legendary device has long since passed its official end of life, with its final software being **MIUI 11, based on the ancient Android 7.1 Nougat**. For the massive community of enthusiasts still using this classic, a clean firmware flash is essential. It's the perfect way to unbrick a device, restore its famous battery life, and, most importantly, create the clean foundation needed to install modern, community-built versions of Android.
- ✔ A tribute to the legendary "workhorse" phone and its incredible legacy
- ✔ Download links for the final official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) firmware
- ✔ Instructions on how to unlock the massive potential of the `mido` custom ROM scene
- ✔ Links to working TWRP custom recoveries and all essential tools
- ✔ The ultimate unbricking guide for one of the most popular phones ever made
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Redmi Note 4X
For `mido`, flashing is the key that unlocks its second life in the modern era.
- Prepare for Modern Android (Primary Reason) → The `mido` has one of the best custom ROM communities in history. Flashing the latest stock firmware is the essential first step to update all the base partitions (like the modem), which is required before you can install unofficial Android 12, 13, or even 14 ROMs.
- Unbrick a Bricked Device → As one of the most tinkered-with phones ever, `mido` is often soft-bricked. This guide is the universal recovery tool to bring it back to life.
- Restore Its Famous Battery Life → A clean flash of the stock ROM is the best way to fix software-related battery drain and get the endurance this phone was famous for.
- Fix Lag and Slowness → A clean installation of its final official firmware will make the stock experience as smooth and responsive as possible.
- Install a Clean MIUI (Xiaomi.eu) → For users who want a debloated version of MIUI, the Xiaomi.eu ROM is a great choice.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: mido)
- Model: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X / Redmi Note 4 (Snapdragon version)
- Release Year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
- Display: 5.5” FHD IPS LCD
- Battery: 4100 mAh
- Key Feature: Legendary battery life, massive custom ROM support, durable metal body
- OS at Launch: MIUI 8 on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Final Official OS: MIUI 11 on Android 7.1.2 Nougat (End of Life)
- Codename: mido
SECURITY WARNING & LEGACY NOTICE: The Redmi Note 4X is running critically outdated software (Android 7.1) and is not secure for online use with personal data. Its true power today lies in its incredible custom ROM community, which keeps this legendary hardware alive with modern, more secure versions of Android.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the final official firmware to serve as your recovery tool and the stable base for all future customization.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | The gateway to all custom ROMs. | Official TWRP for Mido |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) | V11.0.2.0.NCFCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 7.1) | V11.0.2.0.NCFMIXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | Older MIUI 10 (Android 7.0) build | V10.2.2.0.NCFCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Flashing Official MIUI 11 Stock ROM (Fastboot Mode)
This is the universal unbricking tool and the foundational first step for all `mido` owners.
- Unlock Bootloader: Your device's bootloader must be unlocked. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool. This will erase your data.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your Redmi Note 4X. Press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears.
- Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded `.tgz` Fastboot ROM twice until you have a folder with an `images` directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device & Flash: Connect your phone to the PC, click "refresh", ensure "clean all" is selected at the bottom, and click "flash".
➡ Your phone will reboot into a perfectly clean, official MIUI 11 system.
Method 2: Installing a Custom Recovery (TWRP)
This is the gateway to the `mido`'s incredible second life with modern Android.
- Unlock Bootloader: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off the phone and boot into Fastboot by holding Power + Volume Down.
- Flash TWRP: Download the official TWRP `.img` file. Flash it using the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-mido.img - Boot into Recovery: After flashing, hold Power + Volume Up while the phone reboots to enter the newly installed TWRP.
➡ With TWRP installed, you can now explore the massive library of custom ROMs on forums like XDA and bring modern, secure Android to your classic device.
FAQs
**Q1: What made the Redmi Note 4X so popular in Nigeria?**
It was the perfect phone for the market at the time: it had a very strong and durable metal body, an affordable price, and a massive battery that could easily last through long power outages. It was a true all-day workhorse.
**Q2: Can I get modern Android on my Redmi Note 4X?**
Not officially, but yes! `mido` has one of the best and most dedicated custom ROM communities in the world. You can find stable, unofficial builds of nearly every version of Android, from Oreo all the way to Android 14 or 15, on forums like XDA-Developers.
**Q3: Is the Redmi Note 4X safe to use in 2025?**
On its stock MIUI 11 software, **no**. It is not secure for online use. However, if you install a modern custom ROM (like a recent version of LineageOS) that receives regular security patches from the community, it can be made much safer for daily use.
**Q4: My battery life is terrible now. Will this fix it?**
A clean flash of the stock ROM has an excellent chance of fixing software-related battery drain. For even better results, a modern, lightweight custom ROM (like LineageOS) can often provide even better battery life than the old, heavy MIUI 11.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Bricked after flashing a custom ROM: This is the most common reason to use this guide. As long as your PC can detect the phone in Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down), using Method 1 will always bring it back to life.
- Bootloop after flashing a new ROM: You must format data in TWRP before flashing a new ROM, especially when coming from MIUI. Go to Wipe -> Format Data, type "yes", and then flash your ROM.
- Mi Flash Tool shows a "sahara" or "xbl" error: This is a common error on very old Qualcomm devices. It can indicate a bad USB connection, but after many years, it can also point to a hardware failure of the eMMC (internal storage) chip.
- "The system has been destroyed": A generic Xiaomi error for a failed boot. It is easily fixed by forcing the phone back into Fastboot mode and flashing the stock firmware again.